Florida’s roads are poised to become increasingly congested as millions of students and teachers return to school. Statewide, the AAA has distributed more than 1,200 road signs urging drivers to be careful.

When classes resume, drivers can expect an increase of:

• Congestion – more drivers during morning and afternoon commutes
• Pedestrians – students walking to and from school or bus stop
• Bus – pick up and drop off students
• Cyclists – going to and from school

The AAA School’s Open Drive Carefully campaign urges drivers to slow down, eliminate distractions, watch pedestrians and cyclists, and obey the rules of the road as they pass bus stops and through neighborhoods and roads. school zones.

“Drivers should have a heightened sense of awareness as soon as they leave the aisle,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Students will walk or cycle through neighborhoods and along city streets, going to school or to the bus stop. A lot of them might not be looking for you, so be sure to look for them.

SCHOOL ZONES

According to a recent AAA survey of Floridians [pdf]:

• 56% cross a school zone on their daily commute or regular driving route

Residents admit to engaging in the following risky driving behaviors at least once in the past 3 months:

• 37% admit to having exceeded the speed limit while driving in active school zones
• 35% admit to using their cell phone while driving in active school zones

School zones are areas with very heavy traffic for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. Children on bicycles can be unpredictable and make sudden changes in direction.

When driving in a school zone, reduce your speed and increase your vigilance, to make sure you can react to any potential danger on the roadway. Remember that in Florida, it is illegal to use your portable mobile device while driving in an active school zone.

SCHOOL BUS STOPS

According to a recent AAA survey of Floridians [pdf]:

• 50% encounter school bus stops during their daily commute or regular driving routine

Residents admit to engaging in the following risky driving behaviors at least once in the past 3 months:

• 28% admit driving around a school bus with its red lights flashing
• 28% admit to having cut a school bus because it is traveling too slowly

“Driving around a school bus with its red lights flashing is extremely dangerous,” Jenkins continued. “Often the reason people illegally walk past school buses is because they are in a hurry. Please allow yourself extra time on the road, so as not to be tempted to take unnecessary risks on the road that endanger children’s lives.

Motorists are required to stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and STOP arms extended. There is only one exception, which is explained below.

Explanation of school bus traffic laws

• Two-way street – All drivers traveling in both directions on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop sign, and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND that the school bus stop arm be removed.
• Multi-Lane Paved Median – All drivers traveling in both directions must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the stop arm school bus be withdrawn.
• Divided Highway – Traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete partition or at least five feet of space not paving stone separating the traffic lanes. However, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus.

Safety tips for students at the bus stop

Children must arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled time of arrival of the bus. Parents should teach them to play SAFE:

• Stay five steps from the sidewalk.
• Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to board. Be alert and remove the headphones to hear oncoming traffic.
• Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
• Get off the bus when it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.

AAA School Road Safety Summary

AAA – The Auto Club Group, through their School Campaign Open With Cautionremind motorists:

• To slow down. Speed ​​limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is almost two-thirds less likely to be killed than a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling only 10 mph faster.
• Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than a third of drivers cross stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, carefully checking sidewalks and crosswalks for children before continuing.
• Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your risk of an accident. Children can move quickly; cross the road unexpectedly or suddenly emerge between two parked cars. Reduce risk by avoiding distractions like using your cell phone or eating while driving.
• Share the road. Children on bicycles are often inexperienced, unstable and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and a cyclist. If your child is cycling to school, demand that they wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet on every trip. Find videos, expert advice and safety tips at ShareTheRoad.AAA.com.
• Talk to your teenager. Car crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States, and nearly one in four fatal crashes involving teenage drivers occurs during the after school hours from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. TeenDriving.AAA.com.